My dogs LOVE this recipe!
I totally get that we are all pressed for time and the thought of not only cooking for the family but cooking for the dogs too seems inconvenient and crazy!? Right? However, this is a really simple and easy recipe to make in a your Instapot or or slow cooker. If you can replace just one meal a day with this wholesome nutrient and moisture rich recipe, your canine companions will feel better and love you for it.
I’ve been cooking for our two Labrador Retrievers, Sparky (12yrs) and Bob (2yrs) for about 2 years now, starting with my own homemade healthy treats and holistic herbal supplements. After learning about the ill effects of kibble through our vet, education, research and coming across the documentary PET FOOleD by Kohl Harrington featuring Dr. Karen Becker, DVM, CVA, CCRT. (A highly recommended watch!) I figured it was a great alternative for kibble. A species specific raw food diet would be the ultimate diet for my dogs. However, I’m way to squeamish for the for that right now and this seems like a good transition.
Just a quick note about kibble…
There are several things to take into consideration when choosing dog food. The most important is to read the ingredients. Just like human food labels, the first few ingredients make up the majority of the contents. Meat should be the first and be specifically identified. For example, if the ingredients include “liver”, it should state what animal it came from… turkey, chicken, beef, etc. Otherwise it could be from the slaughter house or even road kill. It is difficult to dispose of large dead animals, therefore they are “recycled” by grinding them up and making what is called by-products. Bones, eyeballs, feet, intestines, etc. Gross! Also,kibble is processed at an intensely high heat to make the shelf life longer. All the natural moisture, vitamins and minerals are cooked out and synthetic vitamins and minerals are added so that the nutritional value is considered complete and balanced.
With that being said, lets try something better!
Here’s what you need:
If your pups are tolerant to grains, you can always add 1 cup of brown rice or quinoa.
- 3 lbs cubed or shredded steak
- 1/4 lbs calf liver (usually in the frozen beef section)
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 2 cups peas and carrots (frozen)
- 4 cups chopped spinach
- 1 cup cauliflower (fresh or frozen)
- 1/4 cup bluberries
- 1/2 can 100% pure pumpkin
- 4 lrg eggs
- 1 lrg sweet potato (chopped)
- 2 apples (chopped, peeled and cored NO SEEDS, they are toxic for dogs)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 pinch pepper
Add everything into your pot and stir well. If using an instapot use the pressure cooking setting for 25-30min. For a crockpot set on a medium setting for 6 hours. The KEY is to cook slow in order to retain the nutrients. Anything cooked at super intense heat cooks all the goodness right out of it.
When finished cooking your homemade dog food, mix well or use a masher. My dogs are big boys (100lbs+) so they enjoy it chunkie. This recipe makes approximately 14 cups and can be left in the refrigerator for 4-5 days and frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian, nor a certified canine nutritionist. I am just a self educated concerned pet parent sharing my experiences and I want the best for my companions as well as yours.
Longevity for our dogs is the ultimate goal. We are what we eat, human or otherwise.
Tell your dog I said “HI”.
